A fugitive expat real estate agent was arrested today in Jomtien on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by Pattaya Provincial Court.

Andrew 'Andy' Mathews, 49 from Wolverhampton, was arrested just after 1600hrs when police were informed that Mathews was drinking in 'The Silver Fox Bar' in Jomtien.

In case number 5919/57, filed by German national Rolf Haupt, Pattaya Court issued a warrant on 20th October 2014 when Mathews failed to answer a summons to appear.

Mathews was described in the warrant as a 'wanted fugitive'.

Mathews is expected to spend tonight in custody at Dong Tan police station.

Mathews cannot be granted police bail as the warrant was issued by the Court, and will be sent to Pattaya Court tomorrow morning.

Mathews has a further Court date in a new case on Monday and is not expected to be granted bail before that hearing.Mathews is expected to be remanded in custody tomorrow, at which time he will be sent to the Pattaya Special Remand Prison at Nong Palai.

Lawyers for Haupt are expected to oppose bail as Mathews has at least three new cases pending, and has three previous convictions for violent offences in Thailand in the last five years, including two suspended jail sentences.

Further cases have been filed against Mathews in relation to allegations of threats to witnesses.

Mathews had previously featured in a number of articles written by UK journalist Andrew Drummond, now himself a convicted criminal after being sentenced to 4 months in jail (suspended for one year) by Pattaya Court earlier this year.

Drummond has not covered any of the three new cases Mathews now faces.